20 simple changesSaving energy

Fit energy saving light bulbs

Fit low energy light bulbs to save energy

If everyone adopted low energy light bulbs throughout their home we could stop 16 billion tons of carbon being added to the atmosphere over the next 25 years. And you could save money in the process, too.

In most homes, lighting accounts for approximately 15% of the electricity bill, and although energy-efficient lighting can cost more in the short term, each bulb can save you £10 per year on your electricity bill.

Low energy light bulbs use less electricity than typical incandescent bulbs because they draw less energy to produce the same light. Read our Low energy light bulbs review for more details and Best Buys.

Insulate your home to save energy

Insulation saves energy and money – heat lost from your walls, loft and floor can account for up to 35%, 25% and 15% of your heating bill respectively.

Lofts are the easiest to insulate without major upheaval and you can save up to £100 a year on heating costs by doing so.

There's financial help available if you're planning to make energy-saving improvements to your home. Grants of up to £2,700 can provide a package of insulation and heating measures tailored to your home – find out more at The Energy Saving Trust website or by asking your energy supplier for help

Find out more in our loft insulation guide.

Save energy - switch off from stand by

Save energy by switching off appliances

Many appliances waste significant amounts of energy in standby mode. Switching off your household gadgets saves energy and helps cut your electricity bill.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, £3 billion worth of electricity is spent powering consumer electronic and computer devices in the UK every year – that's 30% of the average household electricity bill.

What’s more, around 8% of total UK TV energy consumption is said to come from products left on standby – so switching off the power when you've finished watching saves energy and money.

A computer monitor left on standby can cost you £30 a year, while turning your DVD player off at night could save you enough money to light your house for six hours.

Compare running costs and energy consumption of the latest TVs in our LCD and plasma TV reviews.

Turn your thermostat down

Be energy-efficient: wash full loads

Reducing room temperature by just one degree could help cut your heating bills by up to 10%.

Changing the way we use many essential household products has the potential to make great savings – both money and energy.

If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, save energy by using the half-load or economy program, or if you can, wait and only wash full loads at a time.

Turning lights out when you leave a room is a simple but effective way to save energy, and unplugging charging devices when not in use will prevent extra electricity going to waste.

In fact, Energy Saving Trust research suggests mobile phone chargers left plugged in after charging are costing UK consumers £47m a year and result in 250,000 tonnes of unnecessary carbon emissions.

Read our Use less electricity report for more energy saving tips.